Italy, October 11, 2008

Di Luca ends season with Emilia win

Italy's Danilo Di Luca, 32, ended his season on a high note with victory in today's Giro dell'Emilia. The LPR Brakes captain dominated the final charge up to San Luca's Santuario della Madonna in Bologna to finish ahead of Italy's Davide Rebellin of Team Gerolsteiner and Russia's Alexandr Kolobnev of Team CSC-Saxo Bank.

The race in Northeast Italy consisted of 198.8 kilometres from Fiorano Modenese to Bologna. The finale included the climb up to San Luca – 198 metres of climbing with a maximum gradient of 18 percent. It was covered five times, with the fifth being the finish line and the end of four circuits of 2.2 kilometres.

An escape animated the early hours of the race. Three riders – Laurent Didier (CSC-Saxo Bank), Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) and Federico Canuti (CSF Group Navigare) – went clear of the peloton at kilometre 51. They had a maximum advantage of 9:22 by kilometre 74 in Crespellano.

The trio fell part on the GPM of Monzuno with the loss of Luxemburger Didier. The remaining duo made it over the Loiano GPM, but a chase group captured it on the third of the closing circuits – kilometre 180.

Visconti and Nocentini were most active in the closing kilometres before Di Luca struck. He timed his attack for the base of the final ascent of San Luca with 2000 metres remaining. Rebellin, the 2006 winner and recent protagonist in the World Championships, was the first to react to 'The Killer' as the climb took its toll.